Living
Commentary
It’s almost impossible to deny the American Reality TV obsession. The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire? and even Gay or Straight all showed us that America desperately wants to see the inside story and find out what a "real" relationship looks like.
Marriage becomes real as the couple lives their daily life with family, friends and co-workers. Marriage affects the whole Church, and, in fact, the entire society, not just one man and one woman. The man and woman enter the church as the people sing Psalm 127 demonstrating that the good things and blessings bestowed upon the couple involve the entire community. We hear phrases like “the prosperity of Jerusalem" and “on Israel peace"
(Touch the screen below to hear this psalm.). The Litany of Peace which follows reminds the spouses and all present that marriage involves a living call to holiness. Together husband and wife further the Kingdom of God.
The couple furthers the Kingdom by the way they live together, how they love, and what they do with the gifts God gives them. The priest asks God to grant the newlyweds an “abundance of temporal good things" not as a selfish prize, but to enable them to “share with those in need."A real relationship extends beyond itself and blesses the lives of others.
A real relationship must remain rooted firmly in Christ. Therefore, the first Troparion of the Crowning (Psalm 79:15-16) asks God to perfect the “vine" that He established. The Troparion reminds us that God unites these two people
(Touch the screen below to hear the Troparia). It also recalls the Gospel image of the vine, when Christ declares, “’I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in Me and I in him will bear much fruit; because without Me you can do nothing’" (John 15:5). God calls the couple to remain untied completely to Him throughout their married life.
Married life undeniably involves significant struggle and personal growth, both individually and collectively. Despite obstacles, spouses must remain faithful to one another and to Christ. The second Troparion of the Crowning encourages the couple to persevere and remain faithful just like the martyrs who “suffered courageously and receive (their) reward" (Revelation 2:10).
God is with this couple, and the hymn following the Troparia echoes the truth that “the Virgin was with child and bore a Son, Emmanuel [God is with us.]"
(Touch the screen below to hear this hymn.). Because God is with this couple, they bring Him into the simple realities of their daily life. As husband and wife pray together, raise a family, serve others and even struggle to overcome obstacles and burdens, their love and life show society what a real relationship looks like.
Cultural Significance
Sometimes communication barriers seem insurmountable, personal struggles seem too intense, forgiveness and reconciliation seem impossible, and spouses seem incompatible. Living a real marriage seems an unrealistic dream, rather than a feasible reality. Still, God remains faithful.
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